How Lawn Care can Help the Disadvantaged

Two organisations in America are helping people without the resources to cut their own grass, while helping out

people with learning difficulties or the socially disadvantaged at the same time. Rodney Smith Jr is a senior at Alabama A&M University, and despite being very busy with his education, he finds time to help the elderly and disabled with their lawn mowing requirements. It all started last year when he saw an elderly man struggling to cut his grass, and realised he could do something to help. Within a month he had mowed 40 lawns, using social media to find out who needed his help, and getting a second hand lawn mower to use on properties that did not have their own. The lawn mower was actually donated to Smith after the seller found out why he needed it, and this act of generosity has sparked the Raising Men Lawncare Service, which works with young men aged 7-17 to give them a purpose in life and realise how helping people is important. The sense of social responsibility that the young men get from working with Raising Men puts them on a good path for the rest of their lives, and creates well-rounded, caring people.

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Smith works with around 20 young men, who progress through the ranks in a martial arts style colour upgrade the more lawns they cut; starting out with a white shirt they move through orange, green, blue and finally black, which is the reward for cutting 50 lawns. Smith says that usually after five goes mowing someone else’s lawn the young men see how important their work is to the people who cannot manage alone, and want to know when they can next help. The reward system encourages them to work hard and see the benefits of what they do, not just for themselves, but for the people who they help. The young men also learn team building, listening and leadership skills which will stay with them throughout their lives, as well as learning how to properly operate a lawn mower.

Smith has been contacted by people as far away as Canada and Saudi Arabia, who want to replicate the system in their own communities as a way of helping out two groups of people who can benefit from both lawn mowing and having a sense of community.

In Ogden, Utah, another socially responsible organisation is helping people with learning difficulties experience the work place and earn their own money by working for Mentor Mowing, a non-profit that provides supervised work experience for young people with autism, dyslexia and other developmental problems that may otherwise prevent them from holding a steady job. Jared Abney set up the organisation as a way to provide opportunities for his twin sons, who both struggle with dyslexia. Abney is a special needs teacher, so the seasonal mowing organisation gives him something to do during the summer, and means he can provide mentorship to people he cannot help at school. Abney hopes to be able to teach workplace skills to his young charges which will help them secure work in later life, while giving them a sense of purpose.

Abney is looking for help with lawn mowers and other equipment to keep the organisation well equipped, and is also asking for people to donate their lawns to be mown, as the more work is available the more people he can help and mentor. Who would have thought that the humble lawn mower could be responsible for effecting such meaningful changes in the lives of people who really need the help?